'There's lots of gold left in the hills'

Prospectors gather in Kalispell on Saturday afternoon

Montana remains the treasure state to Clarence Taber and other members of the Northwest Montana Gold Prospectors Association.

"There's lots of gold left in the hills," Taber said with a smile. "I believe that absolutely."

He and other club prospectors have nuggets and little vials to prove it.

But unlike many treasure hunters, they gladly share their knowledge, their placer claims and the fun they have panning, dredging or using metal detectors to find gold near Libby Creek.

"Some people find some pretty nice nuggets," Taber said.

If that induces a few symptoms of gold fever, the prospectors have a special event planned Saturday.

With gold edging toward $1,000 a troy ounce, this free daylong informational meeting at the New Outlaw Inn in Kalispell offers everything a prospector needs to know to strike it rich in friends and good times while making a few bucks through a new hobby in prospecting.

"It's old-fashioned fun," Taber said.

He invites miners, prospectors and others to gather at 1 p.m. in Kalispell for a day of learning from a variety of experts while enjoying equipment and historical displays. Other events include a best 1864 costume contest with gold-nugget prizes and a buffet dinner for $12, payable in gold dust or cash.

The day begins with a presentation at 1 p.m. by Wayne Olmstead, an assayer from Deer Lodge. His presentation discusses how, why and when to send in rock samples for evaluation.

"An assayer grinds it into a fine powder and evaluates what's in a rock," Taber said.

Other scheduled events include:

2 p.m.: panel discussion of mining regulations with representation from the U.S. Forest Service, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology as well as gold prospectors.

3:30 p.m.: Ted Antonioli of the Montana Mining Association provides an update on mining law reforms.

4 p.m.: Robin McCulloch of the Bureau of Mines discusses the mining process, promoting the small miner and new regulations.

5 p.m.: Buffet dinner where people may watch gold weighed out the old fashioned-way to pay for a meal.

5:45 p.m.: Contest for best old-timer costumes with a gold nugget awarded to the top man and woman winners.

6:15 p.m.: McCulloch returns to provide an overview of mining in Montana.

At 7 p.m., the day wraps up with a presentation by Montanore Mineral Mining Co. on their proposed mine in Libby, followed by a question-and-answer period.

Taber hopes the day inspires participants to invest $30 to become members of Northwest Montana Gold Prospectors. Along with camaraderie, advantages include sharing the club's several mining claims, equipment and dredge permit.

"For $30 a year, you get to go up to the claim and what you find you keep," he said.

In good weather, the club schedules a once-a-month outing to its claims located about 14 miles this side of Libby toward Howard Lake near the public panning area. People have the option of working on their own or as part of a group effort.

"When we work together, we split the gold up among us," Taber said. "We may get one-quarter to one-half ounce in a shift."

Founded in 1994 by Taber and his wife, Jill, the club has a membership today of between 175 and 200 members. Over the years, Taber said, the organization has spun off marriages as well as many lasting friendships.

"People meet and go on vacation together," he said.

Taber said he gets a kick out of experiencing firsthand the prospecting history of Montana. He points to the 1864 gold strike in Bannack followed by a gold rush to Virginia City and then one to Last Chance Gulch in Helena.

"The capital moved three times, all based on mining," he said.

Through prospecting, he and other members experience the work, the frustrations and the heart-pounding excitement when a swirl of the gold pan reveals a glittering payback.

Taber said he and other members have learned a lot over the many years the club has ventured out in search of treasure.

"When we started, none of us got very much gold," he recalled.

The club teaches new members how to read the ground and streams, how to pan or detect metal and how to run a sluice, trommel or high banker. New prospectors also learn how to stake a claim, test their gold, sell it or have it made into jewelry.

During the winter, members meet the second Saturday of each month at the North Valley Community Center in Columbia Falls. Their schedule includes several social events including a kickoff event in May and Saturday night potlucks during weekend digs at the claims.

Even when their pans yield little gold, members find sharing their hobby and good times better than money in the bank.

"The gold really is the friendships you make through the club," Taber said.

For additional information call 892-3722 or 261-9326 or check the club's Web site at www.nwmtgoldprospectors.com.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.